Why Joy Matters (and it’s not what you think)

Let’s be honest - when most people hear the word joy, they picture something loud, bubbly, maybe even a bit cheesy. Think parties, confetti, big musical numbers, maybe even a cartwheel or two.

But at BHVA, joy means something completely different.

It’s not fireworks.

It’s not forced positivity.

And it’s definitely not just about being happy all the time.

Joy, for us, is quieter. Deeper.

It’s that small, warm feeling in your chest. The kind that creeps up during a breakthrough moment, or when you see someone finally believe in themselves. The kind that lingers.

It’s personal. And powerful.

The power of small joys

You’ve probably heard the phrase “the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

We know how it works - small, repeated negatives stack up until something snaps.

But have you ever thought about it in reverse?

What if small, repeated moment of joy could build someone back up?

That’s what we see every day at BHVA.

Tiny sparks of joy - moments when someone smiles at themselves for the first time in a while, or when a student quietly says, “I think I can do this” - add up.

And those sparks create change!

Not all at once. But over time, they light the way forward.

A moment of joy that changed everything

There’s one person who always comes to mind when we talk about this. They joined our Step Into Employment programme unsure, lacking confidence, and completely convinced they’d never run their own business.

Fast forward six months?

They’re self-employed.

Running their own successful company.

And the joy on their face - every time they update us - is unreal.

But here’s the thing: it’s not the business success that brings the joy.

It’s the realisation: I did this. I’m capable. I’m allowed to feel proud.

That’s joy.

And that’s why it matters.

Joy creates resilience, confidence, and clarity

When you find your own joy - your own reason to smile - you stop needing outside validation.

Joy gives you:

Acceptance - of who you are, as you are.

Confidence - to try, to explore, to fail and try again.

Clarity - to see what really matters and where you want to go.

Resilience - to keep going, even when life is tough.

And let’s face it - life is tough. Especially for the people we work with: young people out of school, adults rebuilding after burnout, families balancing chaos.

That's why we don’t take joy for granted.

We actively make room for it.

Joy is a tool, not a reward

In our sessions - whether it’s drama, singing, coaching, or EOTAS - joy isn’t an outcome, it’s part of the process.

We design everything we do around giving people a positive reference point. Something to hold onto when things get hard. Something that reminds them: “I’ve done hard things before. I can do this too.”

Sometimes that joy helps rebuild enough confidence to return to school.

Other times, it gives an adult the spark to follow a new path they thought was out of reach.

And it always, always ripples out.

When we see our students experience joy, it gives us joy too. It’s infectious.

Honestly, it’s the best part of our job.

Our own journey with joy

We won’t sugarcoat it. Between us (and across our team), we’ve seen hard times. Some of the biggest shifts in our own lives came from recognising little moment of joy when everything else felt dark.

A kind word.

A song.

A sunny walk with the dog.

A breath of fresh air.

When you notice those moments, they start stacking up. And slowly… you start healing. Rebuilding. Moving forward.

That's why joy made it into our core values at BHVA.

Not because it’s trendy.

But because it’s essential.

So what does joy look like at BHVA?

Sometimes it’s a loud laugh or a silly dance break.

Other times, it’s a tiny smile. A quiet “thank you.” A whispered, “I believe in myself now.”

We’ll take it all.

We don’t give joy. We help people find it - in themselves.

Because when you find your joy, no one can take it from you.

Want to find your joy? Come along.

Whether it’s through music, movement, mentoring, or something entirely unexpected - we’re here to help you discover those magic moments.

What does joy mean to you?

Where have you found it lately?

Let us know. Because joy shared is joy multiplied.

And remember:

It doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be yours.